Firearm with video capturing and recording device

ABSTRACT

A video recording device may include a firearm, a video recording device and a holster. The video recording device may include a recording unit, a lighting unit and a sensing unit. In one embodiment, a magnetic sensor can be installed inside the holster. When the firearm is disposed inside the holster, the magnetic force between the magnetic sensor and a magnetic sensing unit on the firearm can be maintained, and when the firearm is pulled out from the holster, the magnetic force therebetween disappears to trigger the video recording device to be turned on. In another embodiment, a body-worn camera is synchronized with a magnetic sensing unit of the video recording device, so when the magnetic sensing unit is triggered, the body-worn camera can be turned on along with the recording unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/926,754, filed on Jan. 13,2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a firearm with a video recording device, andmore particular to a firearm with a video recording device that can beautomatically turned on when the firearm is taken out from a holster andautomatically turned off when the firearm is put back to the holster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A video record for evidentiary or historical purposes is desirable invarious situations. For example, when an automobile accident happens, avideo image of the circumstances existing immediately prior to and afteran accident is helpful to better understand how the accident happenedand who was at fault. Additionally, in security applications, it wouldbe highly desirable to be able to record a video image of thecircumstances existing immediately prior to an event triggering an alertcondition and following the triggering of such a condition.

Another example is to record a video image for exercises and simulationsfor training individuals in the use of firearms, including militarypersonnel, law enforcement officers, and firearm permit owners.Recently, more and more disputes arise regarding when the lawenforcement officers should use the firearm, so it would be desirable tohave a recorded video image for evidentiary purposes involves the firingof a lethal or non-lethal targetable firearms. In the event anindividual is injured or killed by a police officer acting in the lineof duty, lawsuits are sometimes filed against the officer and themunicipality in which it is asserted that the shooting of the victim waswithout justification and unlawful. Such suits are typically accompaniedby large damage claims. In these circumstances, a video record to showthe scene as viewed by the police officer at the time the gun was firedwould be important and helpful to determine whether the officer's use oflethal weapon is justified.

Thus, firearms with a video recording device mounted thereon have beendeveloped for a long period of time. U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,621 to Blackdiscloses a conventional video camera. recording device onto a structureresembling a. rifle which can be raised to the shoulder and sighted atan object in the same way that a gun is usually raised to the shoulderand aimed. More specifically, the video camera recording devicegenerates a signal visible through the viewfinder of the video cameraand, therefore, is recordable on the recording media so that the usercan effect, following an activating of the video camera, an aiming ofthe line of sight of the device at a target so as to bring the targetinto view through the viewfinder and to simultaneously record the targeton the recording medium, aligning the target with the gun sightstructure and the line of sight, activating a trigger to activate thesignal generating device and to simultaneously record the signal on therecording medium thereafter followed by a deactivation of the videocamera recorder device.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,480 to Guissin discloses video camera and recordingdevice integrated with a real or toy weapon to provide video recordingof the assault and aiming process of the weapon holder in operationaltraining, actual combat, hunting, sports and gaming scenarios. However,in both Black and Guissin, the user of the firearm has to manuallyactivate and deactivate the video recording device mounted on thefirearm. Also, during panic or critical situations, even if the policeofficers have normal body-worn cameras that can be used to videotape thescene, they may need to focus on the suspect and draw the weapon ratherthan turn on the camera. Therefore, there remains a need for a new andimproved gun with a video recording device to overcome the problemsstated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a video recordingsystem for a firearm to automatically videotape the usage of the firearmwhen the firearm is pulled out from the holster.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a videorecording system for a firearm to synchronize with a body-worn camera tosimultaneously videotape the usage of the firearm when pulled out.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a videorecording system for a firearm which always has at least one videorecording device/camera on when the firearm is pulled out.

In one aspect, a video recording system for a firearm may include afirearm, a video recording device, and a holster. In one embodiment, thevideo recording device may include a recording unit and a lighting unit,and the video recording device can mounted in front of a trigger at alower portion of a muzzle of the firearm. In another embodiment, thevideo recording device can be mounted on the Picatinny rail. In anexemplary embodiment, the recording unit of the video recording devicecan be automatically turned off when the firearm is put into theholster. On the other hand, the recording unit of the video recordingdevice can be automatically turned on when the firearm is taken out fromthe holster.

In still another embodiment, a magnetic sensor can be installed insidethe holster. When the firearm is disposed inside the holster, themagnetic force between the magnetic sensor and a corresponding magneticsensing unit on the firearm can be maintained, and when the firearm ispulled out from the holster, the magnetic force therebetween suddenlydisappears to trigger a switch on the video recording device toautomatically turn on the video recording device. In a furtherembodiment, the corresponding magnetic sensing unit can be disposeddirectly on the video recording device. Thus, when the user pulls outthe firearm, the video recording device will be turned on to record theusage of the firearm. When the user finishes using the firearm, thefirearm can be put back to the holster. At this time, the magnetic forcebetween the magnetic sensor and the corresponding sensing unit on thefirearm resumes to trigger the switch to automatically turn off thevideo recording device.

In another aspect, a body-worn camera is configured to synchronize withthe sensing unit, either through the magnetic sensing unit, mechanicalsensing unit, or light sensor. Namely, when the sensing unit istriggered, the body-worn camera can also be turned on remotely as wellas the recording device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a video recording systemincluding a firearm and a video recording device in the presentinvention.

FIG. 2. illustrates a front view of the video recording system includingthe firearm and the video recording device in the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematic view of a video recording system includinga firearm stored in a holster.

FIG. 4 illustrates a body-worn camera that can be synchronized with thevideo recording system in the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of the body-worn camera that issynchronized when the firearm is pulled out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofthe presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms inwhich the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to beunderstood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and componentsmay be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended tobe encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devicesand materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used inthe practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devicesand materials are now described.

All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purposeof describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologiesthat are described in the publications that might be used in connectionwith the presently described invention. The publications listed ordiscussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely fortheir disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application.Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors arenot entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

In one aspect, a video recording system for a firearm, as shown in FIGS.1 to 3, includes a firearm 100, a video recording device 110, and aholster 200. In one embodiment, the video recording device 110 mayinclude a recording unit 112 and a lighting unit 114, and the videorecording device 110 can mounted in front of a trigger 130 at a lowerportion of a muzzle 120 of the firearm 100. In another embodiment, thevideo recording device 110 can be mounted on the Picatinny rail. In anexemplary embodiment, the recording unit 112 of the video recordingdevice 110 can be automatically turned off when the firearm 100 is putinto the holster 200. On the other hand, the recording unit 112 of thevideo recording device 110 can be automatically turned on when thefirearm 100 is taken out from the holster 200. It is noted that thefirearm can be either lethal or non-lethal weapon.

In still another embodiment, a magnetic sensor 210 can be installedinside the holster 200. When the firearm 100 is disposed inside theholster 200, the magnetic force between the magnetic sensor 210 and acorresponding magnetic sensing unit 150 on the firearm 100 can bemaintained, and when the firearm 100 is pulled out from the holster 200,the magnetic force therebetween suddenly disappears to trigger a switchon the video recording device 110 to automatically turn on the videorecording device 110. In a further embodiment, the correspondingmagnetic sensing unit 150 can be disposed directly on the videorecording device 110. Thus, when the user pulls out the firearm 100, thevideo recording device 110 will be turned on to record the usage of thefirearm 100.

When the user finishes using the firearm 100, the firearm 100 can be putback to the holster 200. At this time, the magnetic force between themagnetic sensor 210 and the corresponding sensing unit on the firearm100 resumes to trigger the switch to automatically turn off the videorecording device 110.

In still a further embodiment, a mechanical sensor can be used toautomatically turn on/off the video recording device 110. For example,when the firearm 100 is put back to the holster 200, a mechanical sensor220 in the holster 200 can be mechanically engaged with a correspondingmechanical sensing unit 160 at the firearm 100 or the video recordingdevice 110 to automatically turn on/off the video recording device 110.When the firearm 100 is pulled out from the holster 200, the mechanicalsensor 220 disengages with the corresponding mechanical sensing unit 160to turn on the video recording device 110 automatically. In anotherembodiment, a light sensor 170 can be installed on the firearm 100 orthe video recording device 110 to control on/off of the video recordingdevice 110. More specifically, when the firearm 100 is pulled out fromthe holster 200, the light sensor 170 is triggered due to the change ofthe light intensity of the environment to turn on the recording unit112. On the contrary, when the firearm 100 is put back in the holster200, the light sensor 170 can be triggered to turn the video recordingdevice 110 off because the environment in the holster 200 is much darkerthan outside.

In another aspect, the video recording system for the firearm in thepresent invention can synchronize with a body-worn camera 300, as shownin FIGS. 4 and 5. Body-worn cameras have been widely used among policeofficers and may become more and more popular after several incidentsregarding the timing for the police to use lethal weapons. As discussedabove, when the firearm 100 is pulled out from the holster 200, therecording unit 112 of the video recording device 110 is configured to beturned on. In an exemplary embodiment, the body-worn camera 300 isconfigured to synchronize with the sensing unit, either through themagnetic sensing unit 150, mechanical sensing unit 160, or light sensor170. Namely, when the sensing unit is triggered, the body-worn camera300 can also be turned on remotely as well as the recording device 112.So, even if the recording unit 112 does not work properly, the body-worncamera 300 can still be turned on to record the scene simultaneously,and vice versa. Namely, when the firearm 100 is pulled out, at least onevideo recording apparatus, either the video recording device 110, or thebody-worn camera 300, or both, would be turned on. In anotherembodiment, the body-worn camera 300 can be manually turned on. In afurther embodiment, the sensing unit and the body-worn camera 300 arecommunicated through Wifi, Bluetooth or infrared.

Having described the invention by the description and illustrationsabove, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the inventionand are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention isnot to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, butincludes any equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video recording system for a firearmcomprising: a firearm; a video recording device mounted on said firearm,including a recording unit, a lighting unit and a first sensing unit;and a holster having a second sensing unit operatively communicated withthe first sensing unit of the video recording device, wherein therecording unit of the video recording device is off in said holster, andwhen the firearm is pulled out from the holster, the first sensing unitof the video recording device and the second sensing unit of the holsterare separated to trigger the recording unit of the video recordingdevice to record the usage of the firearm.
 2. The video recording systemfor a firearm of claim 1, wherein the video recording device is mountedunderneath a muzzle of the firearm.
 3. The video recording system for afirearm of claim 1, wherein the first sensing unit is a first magneticsensor disposed on the video recording device while the second sensingunit is a second magnetic sensor disposed on the holster to magneticallycommunicate with said first magnetic sensor.
 4. The video recordingsystem for a firearm of claim 3, wherein when the firearm is pulled outfrom the holster, a magnetic force between the first magnetic sensor andthe second magnetic sensor suddenly disappears to trigger the recordingunit of the video recording device to record the usage of the firearm.5. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 1, wherein therecording unit of the video recording device is automatically turned offwhen the first sensing unit of the video recording device is coupled thesecond sensing unit of the holster while the firearm is put back to theholster.
 6. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 1, whereinthe first sensing unit is a first mechanical sensor disposed on thevideo recording device while the second sensing unit is a secondmechanical sensor disposed on the holster corresponding to said firstmechanical sensor, and said first mechanical sensor and secondmechanical sensor are engaged when the firearm is disposed in theholster.
 7. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 6, whereinwhen the firearm is pulled out from the holster, the first mechanicalsensor and the second mechanical sensor are disengaged to trigger therecording unit of the video recording device to record the usage of thefirearm.
 8. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 1, whereinthe first sensing unit is a light sensor, and when the firearm is pulledout from the holster, the light sensor is triggered due to the change oflight intensity to turn on the recording unit of the video recordingdevice.
 9. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 8, whereinthe light sensor of the first sensing unit is used to detect the lightintensity of the environment to determine whether to turn on thelighting unit of the video recording device.
 10. The video recordingsystem for a firearm of claim 1, further comprising a body-worn camera.11. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 10, wherein thebody-worn camera is triggered to be turned on when the first sensingunit of the video recording device and the second sensing unit of theholster are separated to trigger the recording unit of the videorecording device to record the usage of the firearm.
 12. The videorecording system for a firearm of claim 11, wherein the first sensingunit is a first magnetic sensor disposed on the video recording devicewhile the second sensing unit is a second magnetic sensor disposed onthe holster to magnetically communicate with said first magnetic sensor.13. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 12, wherein whenthe firearm is pulled out from the holster, a magnetic force between thefirst magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor suddenly disappearsto trigger the recording unit of the video recording device and thebody-worn camera to simultaneously record the usage of the firearm. 14.The video recording system for a firearm of claim 11, wherein the firstsensing unit is a first mechanical sensor disposed on the videorecording device while the second sensing unit is a second mechanicalsensor disposed on the holster corresponding to said first mechanicalsensor, and said first mechanical sensor and second mechanical sensorare mechanically engaged when the firearm is disposed in the holster.15. The video recording system for a firearm of claim 14, wherein whenthe firearm is pulled out from the holster, the first mechanical sensorand the second mechanical sensor are disengaged to trigger the recordingunit of the video recording device and the body-worn camera tosimultaneously to record the usage of the firearm.
 16. The videorecording system for a firearm of claim 11, wherein the first sensingunit is a light sensor, and when the firearm is pulled out from theholster, the light sensor is triggered due to the change of lightintensity to turn on the recording unit of the video recording deviceand the body-worn camera simultaneously.
 17. The video recording systemfor a firearm of claim 1, wherein the firearm is either a lethal ornon-lethal weapon.